While strolling through Cocoyasi, Morpheus saw Arlong's crew.
The villagers, after debate, decided to let Morpheus handle them, too kind to execute them themselves.
Morpheus wouldn't have been so lenient—he'd have flayed them and made sashimi.
Since the villagers entrusted him, he didn't refuse. With a snap, he teleported the Fish-Men to Mariejois.
He was sure the Celestial Dragons would make their lives… memorable.
"Are you a devil, Boss?" Robin asked, barely containing herself. Why not just kill them?
Morpheus glared. "What kind of talk is that? Have you ever seen a devil as kind as me?"
Robin was speechless.
After an hour's stroll, they returned to Nami's home. Nami and Nojiko had calmed, no longer crying, and were recounting the past years to Bell-mere.
Bell-mere listened, her eyes full of heartache, especially for Nami, who'd faced Arlong's crew alone to save the village.
She wished she could tear the Fish-Men apart, but their suffering was over. Good days were coming.
She thanked Morpheus for reuniting her with her daughters.
Seeing they had much to discuss, Morpheus abandoned plans to take Nami and Nojiko along and left with Robin.
Next stop: Loguetown.
A day later, they arrived, captivated by the bustling town. Loguetown, where Pirate King Roger was executed, was well-depicted in the original story.
Morpheus visited Roger's execution platform first. It was underwhelming, weathered by twenty years of sun and rain, barely holding up thanks to Navy maintenance—a grim reminder of Roger's fate to deter others.
After, he dined at the town's most famous restaurant. The food paled compared to the Baratie, confirming it as the East Blue's best.
The chefs here couldn't match former pirates turned cooks. Pathetic.
His palate, refined by Erina Nakiri, found the meal lacking, so he left after a few bites.
Next, he visited a clothing store, buying Robin a few outfits.
As they exited, a group of Marines awaited, led by a muscular man with a scarred chest, smoking two cigars. His silver hair and reddish-brown eyes stood out under a white jacket with "Justice" emblazoned on the back, adorned with cigars, brown gloves, blue jeans, and military boots.
Smoker, Loguetown's Navy commander.
Beside him stood a woman with dark blue hair and brown eyes—Tashigi, Zoro's childhood friend's twin sister.
Onlookers kept their distance, watching.
Morpheus glanced at Robin. "Here for you."
Robin nodded subtly, about to speak, when Smoker bellowed, "Traitor Morpheus, surrender now!"
Robin smirked at Morpheus. "Looks like they're here for you, Boss."
Morpheus was baffled. "Traitor? What are you talking about?"
Smoker repeated, "Surrender, or I won't hold back!"
"Hold back my ass," Morpheus snapped, grabbing Smoker with a gesture, pulling him into his grip.
Smoker was stunned. What kind of power was this?
He tried to elementalize with his Smoke-Smoke Fruit, but it failed, as if Morpheus's hand was made of Seastone.
What was this trick?
Morpheus said seriously, "Tell me why I'm a traitor. I haven't done anything outrageous."
Smoker, defiant despite being caught, snorted and turned away, refusing to answer.
Tashigi, seeing her commander captured, gripped her weapon. "Stay calm! Don't hurt Captain Smoker!"
"Fine, then tell me why I'm a traitor," Morpheus said, eager to understand.
Tashigi explained, "You killed Crocodile, a Warlord of the Sea, so the World Government issued a bounty on you."
She pulled out a freshly printed wanted poster with Morpheus's photo.
Bounty: one hundred million Berries, dead or alive.
Morpheus blinked. So, it was Crocodile's fault. Killing a government-sanctioned Warlord was a slap in their face. A bounty made sense.
But one hundred million Berries? That was insulting.
***
Bonus Chapter:
100 Power Stones = 1 BC
300 Power Stones = 2 BC
500 Power Stones = 3 BC
700 Power Stones = 4 BC
1000 Power Stones = 5 BC
***
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